Free Mobile Scheme: An Initiative ahead of 2014 Polls

TNI Bureau: After allegedly being involved in a chain of scams, recently the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government is considering to give away free mobile phones to 60 lakh BPL households in the country. However, the Opposition saw the government move as a political publicity stunt targeting the 2014 polls.

UPA says it wants to stay connected with the masses and so plans for the “Har Hath Mein Phone” project, the said free mobile scheme that is set to cost the exchequer a whopping Rs.7,000 crore.

On the other hand the opposition leaders have described the move as an attempt by the government to lure people and to forget about the basic problem’s of the country involving water, food, housing and electricity.

Senior BJP leader Balbir Punj said, “I am amused… Electricity should be provided to people in villages. Without electricity what is the use of free mobile phones? The government has not been able to implement any scheme without corruption… This is an election gimmick.”

The opposition has also censured the move saying that, in a country where people are dying of starvation, providing phone is nothing but just a clearly tells about the enticing motive.